Columbus Mayor Robert Smith and Ward 5 City Councilman Kabir Karriem signed a joint statement, Thursday, forgiving each other for a fist fight between the two.
“Regardless where the blame should be placed, the best thing for the City of Columbus, including its residents, businesses and employees, is to put this matter behind us and forgive each other,” the statement reads.
In the statement, the city officials also pledge to drop simple assault charges against each other and agreed to make “no further comments or publications about the incident.”
The mayor and councilman got into a physical altercation, April 1, at City Hall. Smith and Karriem were arguing over Karriem requesting discussion of the city”s responsibility in matching funds for a $2 million MDOT grant to repair the old river bridge.
Karriem was treated at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle late the same night and pressed charges against the mayor the following day. Smith turned himself in to the Lowndes County Sheriff”s Office and posted a $250 bond. Three days later, he filed simple assault charges against Karriem, who also turned himself to the LCSO and was released on a $250 bond.
Once charges are formally dropped, Monday at the earliest, the men”s April 27 court date at Lowndes County Justice Court will be canceled.
Smith and Karriem already have already signed off on an order to drop the charges; it now needs approval from a Justice Court judge.
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